A survey of over 350 school senior leaders has revealed how school funding and demographic challenges are impacting schools. Find out more of the key findings in the first of a two-part blog post series 👉 bit.ly/3Ira5Fl

Weekend read 📖 A new report by @thenfer.bsky.social highlights the urgent need to create working conditions that mirror the importance and value of #EarlyYears educators. Learn more 🔎: buff.ly/gN9ysEj

Most primary school leaders are expecting budget deficits amid widespread concern about falling pupil numbers, @thenfer.bsky.social research shows

In the first of a new two-part blog series, Jenna Julius and Gustavo Lopes discuss new findings on how school funding and demographic challenges are impacting senior leaders 👉 bit.ly/4gsDCes We've also created a video showcasing the key findings. youtube.com/shorts/-DPi7...

📢 A packed room at @iapsuk Annual Conference as Dr Ben Styles explored: “Should I be using AI to plan my lessons and, if so, how?” 🧠 NFER research shows teachers using AI like ChatGPT saved time without compromising quality. Proud to present NFER Research at this years conference! #IAPSConference

Ofsted’s proposals still need significant work ✍ Research Directors Jenna Julius and Rebecca Wheater outline why Ofsted’s inspection framework and report cards proposals still have significant creases that must be ironed out. Read the full blog 👇 www.nfer.ac.uk/blogs/ofsted...

📸 Day 1 at the @iapsuk Annual Conference and we’re all set up at Stand 53! We’re excited to speak with Heads and school leaders about how NFER assessments can support confident decision-making in the classroom. Pop by to say hello and meet the team 👋 #IAPSAnnualConference #NFERAssessments

Our latest blog for @schoolsweek.bsky.social outlines why Ofsted's proposals still need significant work 👇

A number of our experts will be speaking at next week's @ukfiet.bsky.social event! 🗣️ The team are looking forward to discussing how harnessing diverse global perspectives can support lasting change in education. Find out details of each session in the image below 👇 #UKFIETConf

🗣️ Addressing low pay is key if the Government wants to deliver on its early years ambitions. Our Research Manager Lillian Flemons blogs following our recent research into the Early Years Workforce in England. ✍️ nfer.ac.uk/blogs/addres...

Last week, we published an overview of the current state of the early years workforce. Co-author of the report, Lillian Flemons, summarises the key research findings in the short video below 👇 Learn more about the research at nfer.ac.uk/eyw2025

NFER Online Assessments (NOA) are now available for Key Stage 2 🎉 Covering reading and maths curricula across autumn, spring, and summer terms, NFER Online Assessments (NOA) engage pupils with age-appropriate questions while saving teachers time. Find out more 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/press-releas...

📅 The ResearchEd National Conference takes place at Parliament Hill School on Saturday, and we're hosting two sessions in Room K16: 🟣 11:35-12:15 | Impact of using ChatGPT to plan lessons 🟣 12:25-13:05 | E-Assessment - what's the point of teacher marked questions? More info 👉 bit.ly/4fUEQ24 #rED25

Only 49% of early years workers agree that there are opportunities for career progression, compared to 57% among similar workers. Those qualified to level 2 or below are even less likely to agree. Learn more about our latest research 👇 www.nfer.ac.uk/eyw2025

More than 700,000 GCSE physics students could be without a specialist teacher, @thenfer.bsky.social analysis shows, with @instituteofphysics.bsky.social calling for urgent action to tackle the shortage

📰 Our latest research highlights the latest trends in the early years workforce in England. Research Manager and report lead author, Lillian Flemons, discusses some of the key findings below. 👇 Find out more: www.nfer.ac.uk/eyw2025

We will be publishing brand new research on Monday which looks at the early years workforce in England. We'll also have a video summarising the key findings from one of the report's co-authors. #EYFS #EarlyYears

To the teachers, school leaders & colleges who have been part of their students' journeys💕 this one's for you... 🎉Let's celebrate GCSE, Level 1 & Level 2 VTQ Results Day together! What's one proud teaching moment from this cohort you'll never forget? 🗨️ #ResultsDay

A big congratulations to the fourth cohort of students who received their T Level results today, and indeed everyone who received their further education results on #ResultsDay2025. Our Research Director Suzanne Straw has given her reaction to today's #TLevel results 👉 bit.ly/41Bxydm

📰 We've published a new research digest, highlighting our key research and insights from the past few months. Read the summary 👉 bit.ly/4lpSOKe

📢 New article in FE Week highlights why Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) have real potential, following research by NatCen's and @thenfer.bsky.social Read the article: feweek.co.uk/why-htqs-hav... Research link: natcen.ac.uk/publications...

Analysis of the latest initial teacher training (ITT) recruitment data suggests that numbers have returned to re-pandemic levels thanks to a 10 per cent increase in total applications compared to the year before. Find out more in the article below 👇 www.tes.com/magazine/new...

✍️ In our latest blog post, first published in @feweek.bsky.social, Suzanne Straw discusses the positive outcomes from pre-reform Level 4/5 courses, and the implications for the new Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs). Read the post 👉 bit.ly/458e6Wy

📩 The next edition of our NFER Direct e-newsletter will be published on Monday. For a summary of the latest news and commentary from our research experts, visit bit.ly/2MyAIsP to subscribe.

We have just published a new research summary highlighting our key teacher workforce research findings and policy recommendations from the past year. Learn more 👉 bit.ly/4lHBzoC

In a brand new feature length blog post, our Education Workforce Lead, @jackworth.bsky.social, discusses new analysis, commissioned by the @instituteofphysics.bsky.social, highlighting how the under-supply of specialist teachers is affecting secondary schools. Read the post 👉 bit.ly/4m8dSWt

🗣️“The latest projections suggest a larger decline in state-funded pupil numbers than expected last year, with 85,000 fewer pupils expected by 2028.” Our Senior Economist Michael Scott responds to the latest annual pupil projections from the Department for Education 👇 www.nfer.ac.uk/press-releas...

"NFER is a great choice" - Mr Tullett, Deputy Head at Long Ridings Primary. Read how NFER Tests transformed their assessment approach, since 2016, by building teacher confidence, improving outcomes, and embedding rigour across the school 👉 www.nfer.ac.uk/for-schools/...

📝 *NEW BLOG POST* Senior Evaluation Analyst, Andrew Smith, discusses our latest research with @manmetuni.bsky.social, which examined the impact of secondary free schools on pupil outcomes over the past decade and a half. Read the blog 👉 bit.ly/3GOrdnI

The government has paused the opening of any more free schools, but do they improve student attainment? @thenfer.bsky.social’s Andrew Smith shares the findings of his latest research

Our latest research, conducted in partnership with @manmetuni.bsky.social, has suggested that secondary free schools have had a positive impact on pupil absence, particularly at Key Stage 4. Learn more 👉 bit.ly/44txlJO

🆕 Our latest research, in partnership with @manmetuni.bsky.social, and funded by @ukri.org, suggests that secondary free schools in England have had a positive impact on pupil outcomes. Find out more 👉 bit.ly/44txlJO

We have recently been working with @manmetuni.bsky.social on @ukri.org funded research exploring the impact of secondary free schools on pupil outcomes. The findings from this research will be published first thing tomorrow. Look out for updates on our website and social media channels.

Our Education Workforce Lead, @jackworth.bsky.social, has has given his reaction to the House of Commons Public Committee report on teacher numbers in secondary and further education, published today. Read the full quote 👉 bit.ly/3TuIHIB

🗣️ Get involved with NFER Research 🗣️ We're currently looking for tech employers and those who recruit for tech roles to complete a brief survey on recent hiring trends, as part of research looking into employment and education trajectories with The HG Foundation. More info 👉 bit.ly/4l5J9sS

We are conducting new analysis which will explore the key challenges facing the early years workforce in England. The analysis will provide a detailed overview of the state of early years workforce supply, recruitment and retention. Find out more 👇 www.nfer.ac.uk/press-releas...

Hello from a very sunny Festival of Education! ☀️ We’re a part of three sessions over the next couple of days, further information is available at bit.ly/4k9lnev Our @nferclassroom.bsky.social team will also be available for all your questions on both days at Stand D17, opposite the chapel.

We are pleased to be a part of three sessions at this year's @educationfest.bsky.social - Details in the image below 👇 Our @nferclassroom.bsky.social team will also be at Stall D17. Come and say hello! 👋 More info 👉 bit.ly/4k9lnev #EducationFest

Retention payments for early career teachers may help, but the evidence is mixed. This is the conclusion of our new analysis funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org Read @jackworth.bsky.social's blog on the new findings 👇 bit.ly/4liHKQ5

📩 The latest edition of NFER Direct should now be in your inbox, and it features: 🟣 New research on tackling ethnic disparities in teaching 🟣 Details of our sessions at next week's @educationfest.bsky.social and much more... Subscribe to future editions 👉 bit.ly/2MyAIsP

Earlier today, @theeef.bsky.social published our evaluation of 1stClass@Number 1, a small group intervention developed by the Every Child Counts (ECC) team at Edge Hill University, targeted at Year 2 children experiencing moderate difficulties in maths. More info 👇 bit.ly/3FWI73n

The evidence that teacher retention payments keep staff in the job is ‘far from conclusive', according to @thenfer.bsky.social‬ research

“This useful research suggests that while there may be some benefits to these payments, the evidence is far from conclusive. We agree with NFER that the government needs to develop wider recruitment & retention strategies." @thenfer.bsky.social analysis of ECT retention payments: ow.ly/3eBc50WfoZi

✍️ Do retention payments for early career teachers work? In our latest blog, @jackworth.bsky.social discusses the findings of a new report that explores the effectiveness of five different government schemes. Read the post 👉 bit.ly/4liHKQ5 [1/2]

🚨 We will be publishing new analysis, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org, exploring the effectiveness of five different early career retention payment schemes tomorrow. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for the latest updates.

📅 A number of our research experts will be involved with sessions at this year's Festival of Education, which takes place at Wellington College next Thursday & Friday. Our @nferclassroom.bsky.social team will also be in attendance at Stall D17. More info 👉 bit.ly/4k9lnev #EducationFest

A new blog from our Director of Communications @madswheeler.bsky.social outlines how our newly-updated teacher recruitment and retention in England data dashboard can help you to make sense of education in your constituency. ✍️ www.nfer.ac.uk/blogs/making...

💛 It’s Thank a Teacher Day – and we’re taking a moment to say thank you. To every teacher making a difference: your work matters. 📽️ We’re resharing our animation today as a small reminder of the impact you make. www.nfer.ac.uk/for-schools/... #ThankATeacherDay #NFERClassroom #TeachersMatter

✍️ NEW BLOG POST Our Senior Research Manager Matt Walker discusses recent research which explored the strategies used by secondary schools to support pupils returning to the classroom after absence. Read the post 👇 bit.ly/4ed9D9k [1/2]

Our latest research provides a number of recommendations for the government, school and trust leaders and ITT providers on how to improve ethnic disparities in the teaching workforce. Find out more 👉 bit.ly/3FsTik4